Italian immigration procedure for work or business purposes

Italian immigration procedure for work or business purposes varies depending on the length of the foreign citizen’s intent to stay in Italy.

• Short Term Stay,

 If the foreign worker needs to enter the country and carry out business activities for a short term period (less than 90 days), the following procedure is to be followed:

1. Business Visa Request

 the Visa is the document that allows foreigners to enter the country. This document is released by the Diplomatic Italian Authority (Italian Consulate) in the citizen’s country of residence (local area). Usually the Visa is released in approximately 15 days from the application date. This timing may vary depending on the competent diplomatic authority to which the request has been filed.

2. Business Permit of Stay Request

Within eight days of entry into Italy, all foreign citizens are required to apply for the Permit of Stay which allows them to reside lawfully in Italy. The length and the reason justifying the Permit of Stay are usually conform with those on the Visa (i. e.: a 90 days Business Permit of Stay will be released for a Business Visa – Type C).

3. Characteristics

This kind of permit of stay allows the foreigner to travel around the Schengen territory for economic and commercial purposes, for a period of no longer than 90 days. According to this kind of procedure, the foreigner will be able to arrange contacts or agreements, to attend seminars, to verify the good functioning of products sold or purchased on the basis of commercial agreements or industrial cooperation.

• Long Term Stay

If the foreigner needs, on the other hand, to work indefinitely in Italy, and to therefore remains in Italy for more than the 90 days period provided for the Business Permit of Stay, Italian Immigration Law mainly distinguishes between three kinds of foreign workers: subordinated workers, autonomous workers, and assigned workers.

1. Subordinate workers (“lavoratori dipendenti”)

Subordinate workers (i.e. employees) are those whose services are hired by a company or an employer operating in Italy. The issuance of a Visa for “lavoro subordinato” is subject to the specific quotas released annually by the Government for the intake of foreign workers. The Italian company will need to obtain a work permit (issued by the Labor Office) in order to be authorized to hire the applicant.

2. Autonomous workers (“lavoratori autonomi”)

Autonomous workers are those who set up in Italy to independently work as a consultant or to practice a profession or to set up a company.

Under Italian Immigration Law, the Italian authorities must ascertain that:

• the foreign citizen is adequately qualified to practice his activity in Italy and has adequate resources;

• the authority in Italy regulating that activity has no objection to a work authorization being granted to the foreign citizen.

As stated above for the “lavoro subordinato”, any granting of a visa for “lavoro autonomo” is also subject to the specific quotas fixed annually by the government on the intake of foreign workers.

3. Assigned workers (“lavoratori distaccati”)

The “assignment procedure” can be followed when a worker is assigned to work in an Italian company for a fixed period of time, though remaining on the payroll of the foreign company. The Italian Immigration law provides for different kinds of assignment procedures depending on the relationship between the foreign and Italian company and the job to be carried out.

3(i). Infra-company transfer

According to this procedure, the foreign worker can be transferred from the foreign Parent Company to an Italian affiliate. This kind of assignment procedure is applicable to highly specialized personnel or managers who have been in the foreign company’s payroll for at least 12 months.

3(ii). Service agreement assignment

This procedure requires collaboration between the worker’s foreign company and the Italian company. Specifically, a service agreement between the two companies outlining the specific services that the foreign worker will carry out during his stay in the territory.

3(iii). Highly qualified workers

This procedure allows companies or entities operating in Italy to transfer highly qualified workers in Italy for a determined period in order to carry out a specific task or activity.

3(iv). Special categories of workers

In addition to the categories listed above, there are a number of special categories of workers who can work in Italy on assignment for temporary periods, e.g. journalists, sportsmen, artists, nurses, etc.

• EU Registration for citizens of the European Union

• Organize, acquire, and control all the necessary documents for requesting registration
•  Register individual(s) at Town Hall and attain the registration certificate.

• Non EU Citizens

• Organize, acquire, and control all the necessary documents to obtain the work permit.
• Accompany and register individual(s) at the local police department.
•  Professional and guided support when dealing with the Italian Consulate Abroad.
•  Acquire Housing Certificate.